Welcome to LALos Angeles is a city carved out of the desert – a conjured image of paradise. These are the stories of people who learn what lies beyond the dream – yacht parties with theremin makers that end on the rocks, low-budget filmmaking that blurs the line between truth and fiction, movie stars and Hollywood hopefuls whose stories seem too crazy to be true. Welcome to Los Angeles.

Lost NotesThe greatest music stories never told. Explore the amazing stories of how 60s rock hit “Louie, Louie” triggered an FBI investigation, the outlaw Brooklyn radio station WBAD that tracked the rise of 90s hip hop, and the man who went from Folsom Prison inmate to Johnny Cash’s bandmate.

To the PointA weekly reality-check on the issues Americans care about most. Host Warren Olney draws on his decades of experience to explore the people and issues shaping – and disrupting - our world. How did everything change so fast? Where are we headed? The conversations are informal, edgy and always informative. If Warren's asking, you want to know the answer.

Make Art, Not Walls

FROM THIS EPISODE

Tonight, I want to tell you about an amazing event, which is happening – yes – now, at this very moment. And, if you are listening, my advice is to drop whatever you are doing and get yourself to Bergamot Station.

Tonight, from 6 to 9 pm, there is a unique event taking place there – at RoseGallery – an opening reception for the exhibition, MAKE ART NOT WALLS. This exhibition aims to support and celebrate the life and art of a group of refugees and migrants from Nigeria and Gambia who are currently seeking asylum in Italy.

This title, MAKE ART NOT WALLS, comes from an Italian art organization of the same name, founded by Virginia Ryan, who, with a group of volunteers, provides West African refugees with space and donated art materials to tell their dramatic and often painful stories of escape and survival.

There are dozens of small, very colorful portraits, along with scenes capturing various moments of escape by refugees. The paintings in this exhibition are made by six African men who were given a chance to use art as a form of therapy. It’s difficult to say if any of them will become professional artists. But, let me tell you – each of their works grabs and holds my attention.

In her report last year for NPR, Sylvia Poggiolo talked about MAKE ART NOT WALLS as a project which “aims to brings out the human potential and restore dignity to people stranded in limbo.” According to Italian law, migrants cannot work while seeking asylum. Therefore, selling their small artworks is a rare chance to earn some money.

Here, at RoseGallery, all these artworks are for sale from $350-$550, and it’s important to emphasize that all of the proceeds will go directly to these refugees now awaiting their fate in Italy. So, for the next two weeks, until May 5, you can see and buy their works. But, only at tonight’s opening, you can hear Virginia Ryan telling the story of working with these refugees, and at 7:30, the Los Angeles Golden Bridge Choir, will do a special performance. So, my friends, if you are listening live, you still have time to rush to see and experience all the above before 9pm.

Here is another story. Last night, Laemmle theatres had a screening of the new documentary, Hitler Versus Picasso and the Others. This is the latest, particularly eloquent, attempt to tell the story about Hitler’s hate for avant-garde art, and his attempt to ridicule it through a series of so-called “degenerate art” exhibitions. The documentary also tells the story of many Jewish art collectors who were forced to give up their artworks for a chance to save their own lives. Since World War II, descendants of these collectors have been trying to reclaim these artworks, some of which ended up in museums and private collections. I just got a note from Laemmle theatres that another screening of this intriguing documentary might be scheduled soon. I will let you know as soon as I hear about it.